Heat therapy apparatus

ABSTRACT

Heat therapy apparatus includes a lightweight table and a downwardly open rigid hood demountably hinged to a side of the table to form, with the table, an enclosed treating chamber. The hood has a row of downwardly directed incandescent lamps mounted in sockets secured to its inner surface along its longitudinal center line. A reflector shield, preferably of generally parabolic transverse section is mounted on the inner surface of the hood behind the incandescent lamps so as to direct the light and heat from the lamps in substantially parallel rays downwardly to the table and its occupant. Preferably the hood is constructed of fireproof material, and a heat insulating shield of asbestos or equivalent material is interposed between the reflector and the hood wall. The incandescent bulbs are preferably of the three-way type, and are controlled by a suitable switch accessible to the occupant of the chamber for selectively varying their intensity. To protect the incandescent lamps from damage and to protect the occupant of the apparatus from direct contact with the lamps, a screen extends across the hood below the lamps.

United States Patent [191 Novak [5 1 HEAT THERAPY APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Kurt Novak, 3307 California Avenue, St. Louis, Mo. 63118 [22] Filed: June 9, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 151,176

Primary ExaminerLawrence W. Trapp AttorneyBedell & Burgess 5 7 ABSTRACT Heat therapy apparatus includes a lightweight table and 51 June 26, 1973 a downwardly open rigid hood demountably hinged to a side of the table to form, with the table, an enclosed treating chamber. The hood has a row of downwardly directed incandescent lamps mounted in sockets secured to its inner surface along its longitudinal center line. A reflector shield, preferably of generally parabolic transverse section is mounted on the inner surface of the hood behind the incandescent lamps so as to direct the light and heat from the lamps in substantially parallel rays downwardly to the table and its occupant. Preferably the hood is constructed of fireproof mate rial, and a heat insulating shield of asbestos or equivalent material is interposed between the reflector and the hood wall. The incandescent bulbs are preferably of the three-way type, and are controlled by a suitable switch accessible to the occupant of the chamber for selectively varying their intensity. To protect the incandescent lamps from damage and to protect the occupant of the apparatus from direct contact with the lamps, a screen extends across the hood below the lamps.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Pmmmmzs ms 3141.2 1 a SHEEI 1 0F 2 INVENTOP K L ART NOVAA HTTOF/l/[YS PAIENIEDauues 1915 3.741. 2 1 8 FIG. 6

IN VE/VTORJ 1 u RT NOV/i K HEAT THERAPY APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to heat therapy apparatus and consists particularly in such apparatus utilizing incandescent lamps as a heat source.

2. The Prior Art The closest approach to the present apparatus in the prior art is apparatus in which an open framework mounts two rows of horizontal incandescent bulbs, and a flexible canopy of canvas is provided to fit over the framework and form a treating chamber incorporating the lamps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides dry-heat therapy apparatus in which heat of selectively variable intensity is provided by incandescent bulbs enhanced by a parabolic reflector. Lightness in weight, compactness, and ease of use are achieved by mounting the incandescent bulbs and their reflector in a rigid hood structure and demountably hinging the same to a side'of a table to form a treating chamber, the legs of the table being arranged to provide braces for the intermediate portion of the table.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus incorporating the invention, with the hood and table separated.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the interior of the hood, viewed from its open bottom.

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

' FIG. 4 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the hinge member secured to the hood.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged top view of the hinge member secured to the table top.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are transverse vertical sectional views, respectively along lines 66 and 7--7 of FIGS. 4 and 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

The heat therapy apparatus comprises a table having an elongated padded top 1, supported at its four corners by tubular metal legs 3. To permit the use of a lightweight member for the table top, legs 3 are connected to the table top, along its long sides, by long rigid diagonal braces 5, which thus provide additional support to the middle of the table top.

To form an enclosed treating chamber on table top 1, a hood 7 is provided for mounting on table top 1. Hood 7 is similar in plan to table top 1 and is downwardly open with longitudinally extending nearly vertical side walls 9 connected by arcuate top wall 11, and transverse end walls 13 and 15.

For removably mounting hood 7 on table top 1, the hood is connected to the table top by a pair of quickdisconnect hinges. The table top 1 is provided along one of its sides with a pair of hinge leaves 17 formed with semicylindrical hollow knuckles 19, with their upper segments of substantially less than 180 cut away as at 20 and normally cooperating nearly vertical hinge leaves 21 are secured to the lower margin of hood side wall 9 and are formed with solid knuckles 23 of cylindrical cross section, with their sides flattened as at 25 to facilitate their insertion into hollow knuckles 19 through the open upper segments thereof, so that after rotation of the hood leaves 21 from the nearly vertical position, the mating cylindrical surfaces of solid knuckles 23 and hollow knuckles 19 will effect pivotal securement of the hinge parts to each other, yet permit their separation if desired, when the hood is in closed position.

Table top 1 and hood 7 are preferably of sufficient length and width to accommodate the entire body of a patient. However, end wall 15 is cut away as at 27 to form a downwardly open aperture having inwardly inclined sides and an arcuate top, to permit the projection outwardly therethrough of a patients neck and head, and the lower edges of the side wall 9 remote from the hinged-side wall and end wall 13 are provided with shallow recesses 29 to provide handholds and permit some air circulation through the chamber.

To provide concentrated infrared heat for therapeutic purposes within the chamber, a plurality of incandescent lamp sockets 31, preferably of the three-way type, are secured in longitudinal alignment along the crestline of the arcuate portion 11 of hood 7, heir outwardly protruding portions 32 and the associated wires 33 and 35 by which the sockets are connected in parallel, being protectively and decoratively shielded by an elongated semicircular casing 37.

Preferably twelve sockets 31 are provided to accommodate three-way bulbs 38, each of 50, and watt power and lamp wires 33 and 35 extend through conduit 39 to a switch box 41 located in a corner at the intersection of sidewall 9 and head end wall 15 and containing a 60-minute timer and three-way lamp control switch, both of conventional construction, whose operating knobs 43 and 45 respectively are shown in FIG. 2. Power is provided by an external cord 42 terminating in a plug 44 for use in a conventional household receptacle.

To provide concentration of heat from bulbs 38 on the body of a patient positioned on table top 1, an arcuate reflector 47, which may be of parabolic cross sectional shape with bulbs 38 at its focus, so as to provide parallel direction of the rays, is mounted on the inner surface of the arcuate top wall 11 of hood 7. Reflector 47 is preferably formed of a sheet of polished aluminum or equivalent lightweight, highly reflective, fireproof material, and strips 53 of thermal insulating material, such as asbestos, are interposed between the reflector and the inner surface of the hood, along the margins of the reflector and in the region of lamp sockets 31.

To shield the bulbs from contact and possible damage, and to shield patients using the apparatus from physical contact with the hot bulbs and reflector and from the danger of an exploding bulb, a metallic screen 55, preferably aluminum, is removably mounted across the interior of the hood intermediately below the margins of the reflector, in channel section members 56 secured to the inner surface of the hood adjacent the longitudinal margins of the reflector.

For maintaining the hood in raised position when desired, a brace, consisting of a rod 57, slidably mounted in a pivoted clamp 59 secured to the head end edge of the table top 1 is provided, the upper end of rod 57 being removably received in a fitting 61 on end wall 15 of the hood.

The details of the apparatus may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of such modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims is contemplated.

I claim a 1. Heat therapy apparatus comprising a horizontal patient support surface, an elongated rigid hood mountable thereon and cooperable therewith to form a treating chamber, said hood having side, end and top walls and mounting a plurality 'of incandescent electric lamp bulbs on the interior of its top wall and a reflector of generally parabolic cross section transversely of said hood and extending substantially the full length thereof, said bulbs being positioned in a single row extending longitudinally of the hood on the focal axis of said reflector for directing heat rays from said bulbs uniformly downwardlytoward said patient supporting surface, a screen across the interior of said hood below said reflector and substantially above the lower margins of said hood for protecting said bulbs from damage and a patient under treatment in the apparatus from injury.

2. Heat therapy apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said horizontal support surface and said hood have cooperating quick-disconnect hinge parts for permitting swinging of said hood about one of its lower side edges and fast removal of said hood from said support surface and reconnection thereto.

3. Heat therapy apparatus according to claim 2 wherein one of said hinge parts has a hollow semicylindrica l knuckle formed with an open segment of less receivable within said one knuckle, said other knuckle,

havingopposite flat longitudinal surfaces spaced apart transversely a less distance than the width of the open segment of said one knuckle. v

4. Heat therapy apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said one hinge part is secured to said support surface and said other part is secured to said hood, the open segment of said one part facing upwardly and the flat surfaces of said other part being vertical when said hood is in closed position on said support surface.

5. Heat therapy apparatus according to claim 1 including means for selectively varying the power of said bulbs.

6. Heat therapy apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said bulbs are of the multiple wattage type, said means including a switch for selectively energizing the bulbs at desired wattage.

7. Heat therapy apparatus according to claim I wherein said patient support surface comprises an elongated rectangular table top, there being vertical support legs at the four corners thereof and diagonal braces extending lengthwise of the table from the legs toward each other and engaging the underside of said table intermediate said legs.

8. Heat therapy apparatus according to claim 5 including automatic means for selectively limiting the duration of energization of said bulbs.

i i i I l 

1. Heat therapy apparatus comprising a horizontal patient support surface, an elongated rigid hood mountable thereon and cooperable therewith to form a treating chamber, said hood having side, end and top walls and mounting a plurality of incandescent electric lamp bulbs on the interior of its top wall and a reflector of generally parabolic cross section transversely of said hood and extending substantially the full length thereof, said bulbs being positioned in a single row extending longitudinally of the hood on the focal axis of said reflector for directing heat rays from said bulbs uniformly downwardly toward said patient supporting surface, a screen across the interior of said hood below said reflector and substantially above the lower margins of said hood for protecting said bulbs from damage and a patient under treatment in the apparatus from injury.
 2. Heat therapy apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said horizontal support surface and said hood have cooperating quick-disconnect hinge parts for permitting swinging of said hood about one of its lower side edges and fast removal of said hood from said support surface and reconnection thereto.
 3. Heat therapy apparatus according to claim 2 wherein one of said hinge parts has a hollow semicylindrical knuckle formed with an open segment of less than 180* throughout its length and said other part has a knuckle with opposite cylindrical surfaces pivotally receivable within said one knuckle, said other knuckle having opposite flat longitudinal surfaces spaced apart transversely a less distance than the width of the open segment of said one knuckle.
 4. Heat therapy apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said one hinge part is secured to said support surface and said other part is secured to said hood, the open segment of said one part facing upwardly and the flat surfaces of said other part being vertical when said hood is in closed position on said support surface.
 5. Heat therapy apparatus according to claim 1 including means for selectively varying the power of said bulbs.
 6. Heat therapy apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said bulbs are of the multiple wattage type, said means including a switch for selectively energizing the bulbs at desired wattage.
 7. Heat therapy apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said patient support surface comprises an elongated rectangular table top, there being vertical support legs at the four corners thereof and diagonal braces extending lengthwise of the table from the legs toward each other and engaging the underside of said table intermediate said legs.
 8. Heat therapy apparatus according to claim 5 including automatic means for selectively limiting the duration of energization of said bulbs. 